Archaeological Site: Uaxactun, Ancient Sacred Maya Place And Astronomical Observatory Editorial Image

Uaxactun is an ancient sacred place of the Maya civilization, located in the Peten Basin region of the Maya lowlands, in the present-day department of Peten, Guatemala. The site lies some 12 miles 19 km north of the major center of Tikal. He coined the name from Maya words Waxac and Tun, to mean `Eight Stones`. A war between Tikal and Uaxactun, in which Uaxactun was defeated by forces led by Fire is Born Siyaj K`ak`, formerly identified as Smoking Frog, ended in 378 AD. The combined political entity of Tikal-Uaxactun dominated the region for the following 180 years. Siyaj K`ak` might have come from Teotihuacan, been the general of the Teotihuacano ruler Spearthrower Owl, and conquered Tikal earlier the same year. After the conquest, Uaxactun was still able to keep elite prerogatives of monument carving, temple erection, and rich burials during most of the Early Classic era. During the Hiatus period between Early Classic and Late Classic, Uaxactun experienced a lack of architectural activity and ceramic production, which coincided with the decline of the power of Teotihuacan and Tikal. By the middle of Late Classic, Uaxactun showed evidences of population increase, new construction, remodeling of old structures, and appearance of new residential areas, plaza groups, and buildings. There was a time of distinctive population decrease towards the end of Late Classic. By the end of Terminal Classic, Uaxactun was virtually abandoned.